Rangpur celebrates Durga Puja at 964 mandaps under tight security.
Amidst the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's scheduled visit to the 'Dharmasabha' temple in Rangpur city on October 20, the Sanatan community began celebrating Durga puja, their largest religious festival, amidst huge enthusiasm here today.
The celebrations began through 'Bodhan' amidst festive atmosphere and joy at all 964 puja mandaps erected across the district this year.
Local administrations, police, SRB-13 and other law enforcement agencies and local Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad (BPUP) units have taken adequate steps to ensure peaceful celebration of Durga puja.
Local leaders of BPUP said the five-day celebrations will end on October 20 next with the 'Bijoya Dashami' parade and immersion of the idols of goddess Durga in various rivers and other water bodies.
The Rangpur Metropolitan Police (RpMP) and district police administrations have taken four-tier security measures and engaged ample police forces alongside deployment of SRB-13 and Ansar-VDP members to ensure peaceful celebrations of the festival.
RpMP Commissioner Md Habibur Rashid, Deputy Commissioner Israt Jahan, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mozammel Haque, UNOs, leaders of the Sanaton community and BPUPs are visiting Puja mandaps and greeting the Sanaton community.
The Superintendent of Police said that adequate measures have been taken to ensure the peaceful celebration of the five-day-long Sharodiya Durga puja across the entire district, with a strengthened four-tier security system in place.
According to police sources and leaders of the local BPUP, every puja mandap has been brought under CCTV surveillance.
Additionally, mobile patrol teams, as well as female police officers and members of the Ansar force, have been deployed.
Furthermore, check posts have been set up at key intersections to prevent any untoward incidents and to ensure the festival concludes peacefully.
The RpMP Commissioner informed local journalists that followers of the Sanaton faith have begun celebrating Durga Puja with great enthusiasm across 164 mandaps located within the six police station areas of the metropolis.
He said, "We have implemented comprehensive measures and ensured the use of CCTV cameras at the puja mandaps. Both the police force and the puja celebration committees remain vigilant to ensure the festival is celebrated peacefully."
Officials from the district administration reported that Durga puja began today at a total of 964 mandaps across the district, 164 within the metropolis and 800 across the district's eight upazilas.
Ram Jiban Kundu, president of the Rangpur District BPUP unit, said that in addition to the religious rituals, the mandaps will host devotional music performances, distribution of clothing and 'mahaprasad', 'arati' competitions and 'Bijaya' processions.
"The district administration and the police are providing us with support. We are confident that the festival will proceed smoothly without any issues. In this regard, we seek the full cooperation of all the people of Rangpur," he said.
While talking to BSS at various puja mandap today, Sanaton devotees Bimal Roy, Sanjoy Ghosh, Gaouri Rani and Sakuntola Roy expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements taken for peaceful celebration of Durga Puja this year.
